New York state parks rank among highest US tick hotspots

Two New York state parks, Green Lakes State Park and Harriman State Park, have been identified as major tick hotspots in a national ranking by WorldAtlas. Green Lakes State Park, located near Syracuse, ranked second in the country, with researchers from SUNY Upstate Medical University confirming infected ticks along its trails. Harriman State Park, covering 46,000 acres in the Hudson Valley, ranked third nationally due to its dense forests, large deer population, and high foot traffic.

Recent research from the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies provides new insights into the drivers of Lyme disease. A long-term study suggests that white-footed mice, rather than white-tailed deer, are the primary factor linked to the population of young blacklegged ticks most likely to infect humans. The study found that high mouse populations, often fueled by large acorn crops, can lead to a 40% increase in nymphal ticks the following year. While mice help predict tick numbers, the presence of other hosts like skunks and squirrels can influence the actual percentage of ticks carrying Lyme bacteria.